Six line up in competitive Meld Stakes A group of six runners will contest a competitive renewal of the Group 3 Green Room Meld Stakes at Leopardstown on Thursday. The Bulmers Secret Orchard Live at Leopardstown meetings continue with more quality racing as the 107-rated pair of Bear Story and Georgeville head the field for the feature along with 2020 winner Patrick Sarsfield. The declaration of a trio of three-year-olds, Boundless Ocean, Howth and Trevaunance, make this a fascinating clash of generations for the €52,500 prize. The Jim Bolger-trained Boundless Ocean was last seen in the Irish Derby and his trainer is looking forward to Thursday’s engagement with the homebred Teofilo colt, who won his maiden over course and distance in April and finished second in the Listed King George V Cup Stakes over a mile and a half at Leopardstown the following month. “I’m very happy with Boundless Ocean since the Irish Derby,” reported Bolger today. “He has shown a liking for the course and distance and the conditions and has been very consistent. I expect a good performance.” Bolger has won the Green Room Meld Stakes eight times and one more victory would bring him level at the top of the roll of honour for this race with Dermot Weld. Trevaunance is an exciting runner in the Moyglare Stud colours for Jessica Harrington and Shane Foley and connections will be hoping she can follow up a recent win at Limerick as the only last time out winner in the field. Michael Halford’s Bear Story has picked up prize money on each of his last seven starts and the trainer is hopeful that he can return to winning ways before long. Halford said at Thursday’s entry stage: “He’s in good form. He’s been amazingly consistent this year at a good level. “Dropping back a furlong to a mile and one, I wouldn’t see it as a major problem. He’s a very easy ride. He’s a horse that settles really well but he would see it out really strong and the plan at the moment is to go there. This has been his target since his last run. He worked well during the week and I’m very happy with him. “He’s always shown us plenty. He’s really come into his own now with age. He’s quite a big horse, he’s really strengthened up. He’s a horse with a great mind and is very sound-limbed. He’s a pleasure to train and he was a gradual improver rather than a horse that started off there. He’s tough and consistent and is a real admirable performer now. “His form would suggest there would be a one in him. Those races tend to be very strong in Ireland because we haven’t as much racing. You could be meeting anything but certainly on his rating and on his form he deserves to have his day and I think he will.” Green Room is an unraced daughter of Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Theatrical and her offspring include Epsom Oaks winner Forever Together, Dubai Fillies’ Mile heroine Together Forever and the Prix Jean Prat winner Lord Shanakill. Thursday’s feature race marks the third year of Gillian and Vimal Khosla’s support of the Green Room Meld Stakes at Leopardstown in honour of their remarkable broodmare. The first race goes to post at 5.15pm with Imelda May playing live after racing on the Bulmers Stage. Tickets available at www.leopardstown.com and available to purchase from the gate.
